I had to laugh. I was watching this guy in Florida on my television as he was "scrutinizing" a ballot to see if there was a hole of significance somewhere on it. I could see the ballot myself. It was as smooth as a cue ball where the presidential vote should have been cast. There were no hanging corners or dimples. There was no pregnant chad. Amazingly, holes were punched clean through in all the other regions. But there was no way you could say that a vote had been cast for either Al Gore or George Bush. Well, this guy stared holes in the card (a figure of speech), then he stared at it from the back side. Then he pinched the bridge of his nose the way you do when you have been staring at a computer monitor to long. He looked at it with his glasses on and with his glasses off. He yawned, not the yawn of sleepy fatigue, but with a yawn of weary disinterest. Then I saw it. I can’t read lips usually, but I could read his. He said, "Gore." I nearly fell off my chair. I demand a recount!!!!

There is a lot at stake in Florida. Who is going to be the President? What will be the effect on the economy? What will the new man do about Social Security? Is private land and development of that land safe? Will the 2^nd Amendment to the constitution be respected or overthrown? How many babies will die as they emerge from the womb in partial birth abortions? How many public schools will make an effort to desensitize our children with regard to right and wrong by giving instruction in alternate life-styles? How many charitable organizations will lose their tax exempt status for refusing to hire homosexuals and put them in positions of trust over children?

You didn’t know that all of these things are implicated in something as simple as a presidential election? Surely you know that these questions outline a major portion of each party’s election platform and spell out major differences between the two parties. These are issues that dominate the news and much of the time of our congressmen in off-election years. Don’t you think that it is about time to start thinking about it? I demand a recount!!!!

There is one election that will never be in need of a recount of the votes. It is the election of the saints of God to eternal life. "Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble" (2 Peter 1:10). This passage speaks of our election (literally, our being chosen) by God. In this passage the responsibility is placed on us to make that choosing certain, or by implication, to destroy it.

Our election is made sure by our development of a certain character. The things we must do to make our election sure are listed in the context of the passage. "Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love" (2 Peter 1:5-7). The things done here are adding certain things to the way we live and think.

What we do is a product of what we are inside. Jesus said, "For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh (Luke 6:43-45). It is possible that a man may act inconsistently with his character, but he cannot do it for long. The inner man eventually rises to the surface in words and deeds.

We have control over our character. We have a responsibility to cultivate and develop the inner man so that we will be the kind of people who will do the right things. The Bible is filled with instruction on the building and maintenance of character.

First there must be a desire for right to rule in our lives. Note these passages: "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matt. 5:6). "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Rom 12:9). "Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph" (Amos 5:15). "See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all" (1 Thess. 5:15).

Second, we must be careful what goes into the mind. In the parlance of computers, "Garbage in, garbage out." What comes out of the mind is what we have allowed to wander in. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Phil. 4:8). We are not to fill our minds with worldly wisdom. "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind" (Eph. 4:17). "Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience (Eph. 5:6). Security is not in following man, but the words of Jesus. "But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it" (Luke 11:28). All of this includes meditation. "But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psa. 1:2).

Third, we must make continual efforts to pattern our lives by the word of God that we fill our hearts with. Paul told Timothy, "And exercise thyself unto godliness" (1 Tim. 4:7). Strength of character depends not only on proper diet, but proper exercise as well. "But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). To expect the inner man to grow without exercise is futile. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves" (James 1:22).

Fourth, nothing will ruin the work of a man in developing a good character than associations that are ungodly. That is why Paul tells us, "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers" (2 Cor. 6:14). Too many Christians struggle under the mistaken idea that their associations have no effect on them. Heed the apostles warning: "Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals" (1 Cor. 15:33). From the positive standpoint, Paul says, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another" (Rom. 12:9-10).

Fifth, we must make heaven our goal. Our treasure cannot be hear on the earth. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also" (Matt 6:19-21). "If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth" (Col. 3:1-2).

Finally, we must have an appreciation for what God has done, and trust him to keep his promises. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). There is no more beloved passage in the entirety of Scripture, and rightly so. Though it does not tell us all we need to know, its central fact is the foundation of all that God has done, and the proof of it. If we are conscious of the great love of God and the sacrifice he made for us, we will live in perpetual effort to be what God wants us to be.

Now, if we do these things what will be the result? "Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble" (2 Peter 1:10). If we will develop these qualities of character within us, our election will be certain, there will never be a need for a recount.

It could be, though, that we need a recount right now.